Checking off items on our bucket list!!

This summer we are continuing to check off the many places near Grand Island that I want the kids and I to visit. Last week we were supposed to start our big water park tour, however it ended up being a cold, breezy day, so we visited the Hastings Museum.

I have heard nothing but good things about this museum. The girls have been asking to go as soon as they heard there is a kool-aid exhibit. Apparently they thought there would be free samples of kool-aid or something. Such a treat that would be since I never buy kool-aid...so they were very, very hopeful. But there dreams were dashed...no samples were avalable.

My parents were camping in the area, so my mom joined us.

Included in the price of admission to the museum there was a planeterium that showed a 35 minute video. Kind of cool as it was projected on the dome ceiling. The topic was about the solar system and was in a cartoon format. The kids and I thought this was perfect timing since we are currently studying the planets in summer school! There are also Imax movies for a bit extra.

There is too much to mention from our visit...so here is a picture summary!

(Travel tip: for those planning a vacation to Grand Island and the Hastings Area...you can buy a membership to the Stuhr Museum and it is a dual membership to the Hastings Museum! We have already gotten our monies worth!)

After our visit we enjoyed some Hawaiian shaved ice...oh so yummy!

 

 

 

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Staying busy...having fun!

There are so many new things that I want our kids to try out here in Grand Island and surrounding communities....that is almost overwhelming at times to think about.  But...I have to be patient...the weather is cold now....actually FRIGID right now, so some things will just have to wait.

I hadn't heard any good or bad reviews about The Central Nebraska Children's Museum in Hastings, NE.  When I asked local friends no one really knew anything about it.  I kind of got blank stares.  Like huh?  There is a museum?  Say what?  I thought I would take the kids there on a negative million degree day.  We got to where the website said it was...and it was a ghost town.  It was supposed to be in a mall.  We walked in and it was like a scene from a bad dream or something..store signs hanging, trees decorated, Christmas music playing...but nothing was open and the stores were all empty.  So creepy.  We were all a bit confused.  We kept walking a bit and saw there was hope!  A nail salon and Herbergers department store were open!  We kept walking and saw the sign for the museum...but the doors were locked and a lovely little sign saying we needed to use the outside entrance.  Seriously?  Do they know how cold it is outside?

So we made it to the museum...finally.  We walked in and it is completely empty except for a few kids that were in a preschool class.  I kind of looked around and thought...what was I thinking?  Jocelyn my oldest was thinking the same thing.  I apologized to her and said we will have fun for the boys...let's just make the most of it.  Well we were both wrong...I guess love at first sight wasn't happening for this place...but in the end, when it was time to go, my kids were begging to stay a bit longer. They had such a good time at this museum and we ended up buying a one year membership.  If we go 1 1/2 more times it will be paid for! 

The stations were a bit outdated in terms of how old/new the toys were.  I guess were used the newness of the museums in Lincoln and Omaha.  It was in one big area, so it was easy to keep track of the little ones playing at different stations.  There were all sorts of stations such as a mini ice skating rink, a tee-pee, dress-up area, world geography, music, bakery, pizza place, construction zone, train stations, art, and a grocery store.  My kids had such a good time!  We can't wait to go back!